Catholic priest, friend of casino owner, charged with perjury

Casting Call

January 03, 2008|By FROM NEWS SERVICES

It's time to schedule a sequel to "Casino," this time set in Philadelphia in a plot ripped from the headlines. On Wednesday, a Roman Catholic priest who lives in Scranton, Pa., was arrested on perjury charges, accused of lying about the nature of his relationship with a mobster during grand jury testimony about a friend and casino owner's possible connections to organized crime.

RedEye couldn't resist the chance to cast the mob movie "Casino II: Philly Style," which is practically begging to be made.

- Joey Pantoliano, aka Joey Pants, as Rev. Joseph Sica, an adviser to Mount Airy Casino Resort owner Louis DeNaples, the subject of the grand jury investigation. Sica was arrested outside his home for allegedly lying about his relationship with organized crime boss Russell Bufalino, who spent time in the cooler in the '70s and '80s. Sica told the grand jury last August that he met Bufalino by chance and didn't have a relationship with the big boss.

- Tony Sirico as Bufalino. Sirico, who played "Paulie Walnuts" on "The Sopranos," could capture the angst of a Bufalino, who appeared standing arm-in arm in a photo with Sirca.

- Jerry Stiller as Louis DeNaples, Sica's advisee and linchpin in the priest's arrest. After seeing a glimpse of Stiller's dark side in feuds with Elaine on "Seinfeld" and son-in-law "Doug" on "King of Queens," we know he's got it in him to play the part.